Arizona silver belt., 1887-10-08
GENERAL MILES
On the Removal of Indians from San Car
 Ios to separate Reservations.

eral Nelson A. Miles replies to the un-
 warranted strictures, published m the
 Journal-Miner of the Sd ultimo, upon
 his official management of military af-
 fairs, but more particularly for hls
 neglect to recognize Prescott as tbe
 Little Pedfngton of Arizona. The
 General treats the charges and innuen-
 dos of the Journal-Miner separately.
 Flrst.-Field headquarters in the
 southern part of the Territory were
 established prior to General Miles as-
 signment to the command of this de-
 partment.
 Second. J The order reserving a
 tract of government land for military
 purposes near Albuquerbue had no
 significance other than that Albuquer-
 que being railroad center, advanta- geously situated, it was deemed advis- able to reserve the land for possible future use, in accordance with gen sral pslicE- of tIse aaH4rament
 Third. The Generals protracted stay at Albuquerque was at the time of the removal of the Warm Spring and Chirlcahua Indians to Florida, and of the 'Jicarilla Indians from near Fort Stanton, N. M., to the northern part of that Territory, and was neces- essary in order to better superintend the removal. The General, at that time, did not expect to remain in com mand of the department and had not given the location of department head quarters thought, and thelr removal to Los Angeles was not at his instance.
 Fourth.-"The premise that I had any feeling other than that of good will and desire for the general well fare of the people, regarding Prescott or any other section of Arizona" is, says General Miles, "certainly con- tradicted by the history of my endeav- orS for the best interests of the whole Territory, which have always been of paramount consideration with me"
 Fifth.-The General is of the opin- ion that the placing of so many tribes of Indians, from different sections of Arizona and New Mexico, on the San Carlos {White Mountain) reservation was a mistake, and suggests as reason for it, the charge often heard, that it was done for reasons personal to interested parties-agents, contrac- tors and others Many of the Indians thus moyed.have always been dissatis- fled, the change has been detrimental to their health and fruitful of frequent emeutes, and rebellion against the authority of the government. The White Mountain Indians were per mitted to retngn to the vicinity of Fort Apache and have succeeded in maintaining themselves without ra- tions from the government. The Tontos, Mojaves and Yumas have for years been begging to be allowed to return to their native country. Their present location on the San Carlos res ervation IS not healthy for them, they have been declmated by disease, while other tribes, living in country agree able to them, have largely increased in numbers and wealth The process of slow killing off of the disafected tribes referred to, is against humanity and the policy of the government. "During a recent visit to San Carlos, says Gen. Miles, "I found dissatisfac- tion among the Indians very great, and at one time the danger of an out break was most serious. Between one thousand and twelve hundred Indians left their camp and congregated on the western borders of the reserva tion, and for a while matters looked most serious and threatening for the people of ArIzena. It was with the view of avoiding trouble and for the peace of your Territory that I recommended that authority be gwen for such disposition of those Indians as the peace of the community, and justice as well, seemed to demand"
 The General then goes on to say that the difficulty of removing 5000 Indians from San Carlos to other loca- tions, outside of Arizona, IS not fully considered by those who advocate such a course. No place where they could be conveniently put has been suggest ed. There is a law of Congress pro- hitlting them being sent to the Indian Territory. He says further, 'In my opiulon, good beginning would have been made to separate the camps as far as practicable, and in such a way as would not only benefit the Indians, but give better security to the white people, for it IS much easier to control a small than large band. The wis dom of such a course is illustrated by the peaceful, industrious and progress sive condition of the Pimas, Papagos